Moistening device



Oct. 22, 1929. 'r. R. GAUTIER MOISTENTNG DEVICE Original Filed Dec. 5.1924 s w'a fl 3 i Patented Oct. 22, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICETREVOR R. GAU'IIER, OF NASHUA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR TO NASHUA GUMMED6c COATED PAPER COMPANY, 013 NASHUA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, A CORPORATION 01MASSACHUSETTS MOISTENING DEVICE Original application filed December 5,1924, Serial N'o. 754,125. Divided and this application filed Serial No.39,275.

My invention aims to provide an improved moistening mechanism or devicefor moistening adhesive or gummed stickers, labels, sealing tape orother strip material, and while of general use in such connection, it ismore par ticularly related to strip serving and like ma chines. Thisapplication is a division of my copending application, Serial No.754,125,

filed December 5, 192 1, which latter application is, with respect tocertain common subject matter, a continuation of my copendingapplications Serial N0. 64:3,907, filed June 7, 1923, and Serial No. 7 11,592, filed May 20, 1924-.

In the accompanying drawings disclosing one illustrative embodiment ofmy invention Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a strip serving machine withwhich the moistening device of my invention may be employed;

Figs. 2 and 3 are respectively longitiidinal and transverse verticalsections through the moistener embodying one form of my invention.

The device of my invention is generally useful for moistening adhesiveor gummed strips such as labels, stickers, sealing tape or other stripmaterial, and is not restricted to use with strip serving or likemachines of any particular type. Moreover, in certain instances themoistening device herein disclosed may be useful apart from otherapparatus, the strip to be moistened being passed through it manually,but it particularly cooperates with machines for serving strips ofadhesive tape and. hereinis illustrated in that connection. The stripserving machine shown is of the general type disclosed in my saidcopending applications, and in certain respects the moistening means ofmy invention is peculiarly adapted for use with mechanism of said type.

ings, the housing or frame of the machine is indicated at 1, comprisingsuitably connected side castings. Desirably said housing is providedwith feet 1 preferably rubber-shod, as indicated at 5.

The supply or roll 6 of gummed or adhesive strip material such as tapeis received within the rear portion of the housing between its June sidewalls. Although my invention is applicable to use with ungummed stripsfed from a supply past a suitable gum or adhesive applying device,desirably the strip of material to be moistened is previously gummed.The strip may be of any suitable Width and the strip roll 6 is held inproper position for feeding by any suitable means, preferably suchdisclosed in my said copending applications, including a plateengageable with the side face of the roll and carried by a spindle 8adjustably extending through a boss 10 in the wall of the housing.

l Vhile any suitable form of feeding means may be employed I have hereindisclosed means similar to that of my said copending applications, withwhich my moistener particularly cooperates. Referring to Fig. 1, a feedlever is pivoted at 16 upon a hub projecting from the housing, a spring17 tending to maintain said lever in its raised position substantiallyas shown. At its forward end said lever is provided with a finger piece18 andis guided for vertical movement in a slotted member 19, the slotof said member being of sufficient length to permit the full movement ofthe lever desired in feeding a maximum length of strip or tape. Thelength of strip to be fed may be regulated, said guide 19 beingformedwith a plurality of notches 20, 20 any one of which is adapted toreceive the stop member 21, the lower end of which projects into thepath of the lever 15 to limit its downward movement. In addition, alever lock and automatic release may be provided if desired, such asfully shown and described in my said copending application, Serial No.714,592, whereby the op erative may draw off any desired length of stripin excess of that normally fed by the maximum movement of the feedlever. Referring more particularly to the draw- Said lever 15 carries arack 23 meshing with a pinion 2 1 on the adjacent end of the shaft 25 ofthe feed roll, as fully shown in said copending application, Serial No.754,125, and not necessary to illustrate further herein. Desirably theconstruction is such as to permit a slight non-feeding clown- .wardmovement of the lever from its top position, any suitable lost motion orlike confeed lever and cooperating with the fixed blade to severthestrip. The strip is suitably guided from its imtial position in theroll or package 6 through thefeeding means and between the said bladesto the moistening means preferably in the manner fully shown anddescribed in said copending application, Serial No. 643,907.Desirablyaremovable cover 59 is provided for the upper parts of thefeeding and severing portions of the mechanism.

The; moistening device, which, as above stated,'is adapted for generaluse and is not limited to use in strip serving machines of anyparticulartype, includes a receptacle, or

reservoir 60" to'receive a supply of moistening fluid. Saidreservoir andassociated parts ".Df the moistening device may be removed from themachine as a unit, it being provided "with lateral guides or flanges 6162 which are'received upon ribs upon the inner faces of opposite sidewalls of the machine hous- "ing. The reservoir may thus readily beplaced in its position upon the machine or removed therefrom. I v The mostening element herein. consists, as also in said copending,application, Ser1al No. 754,125, of a reversed or inverted brush (il-positioned in the reservoir with the free or moisture-applying ends 65of its bristles extending upwardly above the level of the liquid and,the lower portions of the bristles iand theback 66 of the brushsubmerged therein. The brushior brushes, if more than one-be employed,may be positioned at any desired: point longitudinally of the reservoir,

that is, along the path of the strip to be moistened. In some instancesit is desirable to, placethe brush at the forward end of the reservoir,as herein illustrated, althoughv the brush and its operating mechanismof the present form are equally adaptable for different positioning ofthe brush as, for example, at the rear of the reservoir.

The strip, tape, label or the like is fed pastthe severing device andacross the upper or moistening end 65 of said brush 64. Directly abovethe brush there is positioned a guide member or plate 67extendingtransversely of the reservoir and secured in this instance to aremovable cover 74; having depending flanges 75, 76, best seen in Fig.3, respectively received on lateral ribs 77, 78

upon the reservoir. Said cover forms a guide for the strip to conduct itto the brush, the portion of said cover adjacent the brush preferablyterminating within the side walls of the reservoir as a slightly springylip 79. The construction of the moistening device may be such that itmay be inserted either end foremost in the strip serving machine,thereby varying the position of the moistening element or brush withrespect to the severing means. For convenience in filling, a lip 80 maybe formed on an end wall of the reservoir.

The brush is supported in the reservoir for vertical movement, beingfloated or yieldingly held in position with the moistening ends (35 ofthe hairs or bristles in contact with the lower face of said plate 67.The strip to be moistened is fed past the severing mechanism and betweensaid ends 65 of the bristles and the plate 67. Being yieldinglysupported the brush readily permits the. tape to pass in contacttherewith and at the same time deposits the desired amount of moistureuniformly over the gummed surface of the strip.

As herein illustrated, the means whereby the brush is floated up againstthe overlying plate or guide (37 includes a pivoted memher or lever 81to one end of which the back (33' of the brush is connected. Said leveris fulcrumed as at 82 upon a cross bar 83 supported in opposed recesses84, 85 formed in the side walls of the reservoir. At the end of saidlever; opposite to that at which the brushis connected is secured acounterweight 86. Through the medium of said pivoted and weighted leverthe brush is yieldingly urged upwardly so that the free ends of itsbristles are normally in contact with the lower face of the plate 67.Any wear at the moisture-applying ends of the brush is thusautomatically compensated for.

From the foregoing it will be understood that my invention includes in amoistening device one or more brushes having their lower portionssubmerged in the liquid of the reservoir and yieldingly supported withthe moisture applying ends of their bristles above the level of theliquid and normally in contact with the adjacent face of a guide memberor plate between which and the bristles the strip to be moistened ispassed. Claims directed broadly to a floated or yieldingly supportedbrush are contained in my said copending application, Serial N o. 714,-592. In that embodiment of my invention herein disclosed and claimed thebrush is floated or yieldably supported in the reservoir bycounterweighting means and suitable connections, whereby it may yielddownwardly or away from the plate to the required extent and the hairsor bristles of the brush may be flexed by the passing strip, the gummedsurface of which will receive sufficient moisture to cause it to adheresatisfactorily when applied.

My invention is not limited to the illustrative embodiment shown anddescribed herein, its scope being set forth in the following claim:

A device for moistening adhesive or gummed strips comprising, incombination, a reservoir constructed and arranged for 10 support in thepath of a strip fed by a strip serving machine, an inverted brush in thereservoir with its free end adapted to project into moistening relationwith a strip as fed, a vertically rockable lever in the reser- 15 voir,a horizontal cross-bar on which said lever is roc-kably supported, andopposed interior recesses on the side Walls of the reservoir forremovably positioning said cross bar, said lever being attached at oneend to 29 the base of the brush and having at its other end acounterweight.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

TREVOR R. GAUTIER.

